Published 4:00 am, Sunday, January 9, 2000

The big news on the home video front continues to be the success of DVD and its dramatic encroachment upon the VHS tape habit that has dominated home viewing for more than 15 years.

Although DVD usage is still comparatively low -- less than 7 percent of households have DVD players -- the numbers are growing in fast-forward leaps.

Thanks in part to the hit sci-fi thriller "The Matrix," plus DVD versions of "The Mummy," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" -- all late 1999 releases -- sales of video discs went well over 1 million units per week by mid-December, according to industry tracking service VideoScan.

Also significant was the intense interest in DVD shown by retailers and rental chains. The 1,400-store Hollywood Video chain told Daily Variety that DVD now accounts for 4 percent of total rentals, and 4,000- store Blockbuster aims to introduce the format for rent nationwide. By embracing DVD, these big operations are confirming the trend toward all things digital (digital TV is also on the march).

Industry watchers say 2000 is key to DVD's ultimate domination of the home video market. Consumer electronics experts agree that DVD's expected 10 percent penetration of the market by the end of the year will be the magic mark ensuring a solid future for the format. (Tapes, though, will still be around.)

LATEST SFGATE VIDEOS

Check out the speed of the DVD revolution: It took 13 years for sales of color television sets to reach 10 percent of the TV market, and when VHS videocassette recorders were introduced, it took 11 years for sales to hit the 10 percent mark. Audio CD players took six years to reach a 10 percent penetration. DVD? If predictions come true, it will have reached 10 percent in just four years.

In 1999, electronics manufacturers sold an estimated 4 million DVD players -- about 4.5 million U.S. households were using the format by year's end. By the end of 2000, those figures will reach 5.5 million players sold annually, with a penetration of 10 million homes, according to figures compiled by Toshiba America.

With the huge 1999 Christmas selling season over ("The Matrix" was the home video champ), this month and next will be slow, with only a few hot releases ("Runaway Bride" is expected to dominate). The lull in home video excitement will last until at least March, when Oscar races are more defined and studios juggle their premium films to maximize the Academy Award tie-ins for home viewing.

Here are the big January releases:

-- "Bowfinger." This comedy stars Steve Martin as a lowlife indie moviemaker and Eddie Murphy in a double role as an action-film superstar and the star's nerdy brother. Should play well on the small screen. Tape and DVD available.

-- "Detroit Rock City." It didn't do big box office, but this coming-of- age comedy about four Cleveland guys who will do anything to get to a '70s Kiss concert should be a hoot at home. Tape only; DVD due later in the year.

Coming in March: "Crazy in Alabama," "Fight Club," "Anywhere but Here" and "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc."

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.